How can the offense improve? Harbaugh hears from Vernon

The Niners have gained 415 yards this season, the fewest they’ve had in back-to-back games since they managed 398 yards in the final two games of the 2007 season.

How can they improve?

Tight end Vernon Davis has some thoughts on the subject. And he shared them with coach Jim Harbaugh this week after an overtime loss to the Cowboys in which Davis said he was surprised he was asked to do so much blocking.

Both Davis and Harbaugh said their chat was all about football. Did they discuss how Davis told the media about his apparent displeasure with his offensive role after he had two catches for 18 yards?

Harbaugh didn’t bite.

“Conversations are two-way, you know,” Harbaugh said. “Me and him.”

Davis was more eager to talk about the meeting, which he said was amicable and didn’t touch on his post-game frustration.

“I had on my mind some things that I thought we could have done better in the game,” Davis said. “And I pointed them out to him, as far as getting everybody involved. I mean, everybody — all the playmakers we have.”

“Because that’s what we need to win games. That’s what I’m here for — to win games. Help my teammates win games, go to the playoffs and get a chance to appear in the Super Bowl. And that’s all I think about. Ways that I can help, whether it’s blocking or catching passes.”

Davis said he asked Harbaugh how the Niners could take advantage when opponents double-covered him. Davis has seven catches for 65 yards this season.

“This year, they’re really trying to keep their eyes on me, so that’s one conversation I had with Harbaugh,” Davis said. “I was asking him, ‘What can we do when teams are doubling me and some of the guys, whether it’s Crabtree, myself, Delanie, what can we do?’ And he said he’d get back to me later on.”

On Sunday, the 49ers were able to capitalize on one occasion when Dallas had two defenders on Davis. In response, Alex Smith tossed a 29-yard touchdown down the right sideline to Delanie Walker, who was isolated on Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer.

“They were watching me, trying to focus on me, and they were sleeping on Delanie,” Davis said. “He’s just as fast as I am and he got open. Either one of us was going to get open on that play … And Delanie got open. I’ll take that.”